Record



April 4, 1944.

R. w. SEARS, 2D

RECORD Original Filed Aug. 8. i941 INVENTOR. fizclzwuzffi'earal Reissued Apr. 4, 1944 RECORD Richard W. Sears, II, Grayslake', Iii.

Original No. 2,316,815, cat

No. 405,965, August reissue April 24, 1943, S

19 Claims.

This invention relates to records and particularly to records for recording sound.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a record provided with means whereby a signature slip or identification means can be securely secured to the record by the author thereof, said means being impossible of being removed from the recorded record without leaving tell-tale evidence.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved record having means provided whereby a removable slip or tag adapted to contain the signature or identification of the recorder or author is adapted to be'inserted within the body of the record in a predetermined position, the said slip or tag being provided with means to prevent removal from the record by the provision of interlocking means between the'sl'ip or tag and the body of the record whereb the slip or tag when inserted in position in the record is incapable of being removed without damage to the record or a part thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provi sion of means to indicate or identify the author or recorder of the record by the use of a personal signature or otherwise whereby the record after recordation will be equivalent to a signatureon the letter, the identification means being incapa ble of being removed from the record without leaving evidence as to its removal.

A still further object is the provision of a new and improved record having means provided whereby the recorder or author can positively and permanently associate identifying indicia in connection with the record so that the author or recorder will know definitely" that the matter contained on the record is his work.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of removable means carried by the record and adapted to be reinserted in the record, and when reinserted be prevented from. being withdrawn except by leaving definite evidence as to the withdrawal thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a record having an opening recess provided intermediate its upper and lower surfaces to receive an identifying tag or slip upon which the recorder may place identifying indicia to designate the recorded subject matter as his own, the tag or slip being adapted to be easily'withdrawnand when reversed and reinserted in position is prevented from being withdrawn without damaging the rec prd so as to leave tell-tale evidence of the fact ed April 20, 1943-, Seriai 1941. Application for erial No. 484,438

' that the identification slip or tag has been tampered with in some way. I

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress. of the following specification. I

The accompanying drawing illustrates a selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows: I

Fig. 1 is a detail top plan view of a record and embodying the invention, parts being broken away for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the identification tag or slip reinserted in position so as to prevent its withdrawal;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar-to Fig. 3 showing how the record is mutilated when the reinserted slip or tag is attempted to be withdrawn from the record;

Fig. 5 is a detail top plan view of the top or recording surface of the record;

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the intermediate portion or central section of the record;

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the bottom section of the record;

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the slip or tag which is inserted in the record and adapted to be withdrawn and then reinserted to constitute a,

permanent attachment to the record.

The particular record herein shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention comprises a. top or recording portion 9, an intermediate portion Ill, and a bottom portion l I.

The top portion 9 is adapted to be made of any suitable material such as plastic, metal, or other material adaptable to have proper sound waves cut or embossed therein, and is adapted to be fastened on top of the center or intermediate disc ID. This disc Ii] may be made of cardboard, fiber or any other suitable material and is mounted directly upon a bottom disc H, which may be made of the same material as the intermediate disc H]. The three disc's may be securely and rigidly fastened together so as to form a laminated structure equivalent in all respects to a single circular element.

The central or intermediate disc I!) which is of substantially the same diameter as the top disc 9 is provided with a cutout I! to receive atag or slip 13. The lower disc H is adapted to be provided with a cutout l4 over which material [5 is placed so as to provide a protecting window 16 The three discs ll, ID, and H are adapted to be secured rigidly and permanently together so thatv The record comprising the three discs 9, I0,

and II is adapted to have the slip or tag I3 inserted in place therein I'I projecting a predetermined distance beyond the peripheral edge I8 of the record. The memher with an extending tab I3 is adapted to contain perforations I9 at a point coincident with the-peripheral edge, of

the record or slightly inward of the peripheral edge so that when the tab portion I'I defined by the perforations I9 is torn from the body of the tag or slip I3,the edge of the slip or tag will not protrude beyond the peripheral edge of the record.

The record, when first obtained and before any recording is done thereon, has the slip or tag I3 mounted in place in the slot I2 between the top disc 9 and the bottom disc II, The slip or tag I3-has the tab I1 thereof projecting a predetermined distance beyond the peripheral edge of therecord as clearly shown in Fig. 1. After sounds have been recorded on the upper surface of the top disc 9, the tag I3 is adapted to be totally withdrawn so thatthe recorder or author of the matter recorded on the record may sign or otherwise provide indicia on the tag so as to identify the author orrecorder of the record.

The slip or tag I 3 is then adapted to be reinserted soas to lock the tag or slip permanently in position in the recess I2. The tag or slip I3 is provided with locking means so as to prevent withdrawal or removal thereof after the same has been reinserted. Thelocking means 20 comprises a body portion 2| having a locking finger or needle 22 which is relativelysharp pointed at its end and which is'made of resilient springy material. f i

The point 22 of the locking member is adapted to face inwardly toward the center of the record in its original position and condition, but is adapted to be sprung from the position shown in full lines to thes. position shown in dotted lines in. Fig. 8, so that the locking end 22 will be reversed as shown in Fig. '2 so as to prevent removal.

In Fig. 1 the locking member 22 is in a position soas to permit easy withdrawal of the member I3 out ofthe slot I2. After the tag or slip I3 has been withdrawn andthe member 22 bent over, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8, and reinserted in the slot I2, the tag I 3 .wil1.be prevented from being withdrawn from the slot because of the resiliency or springiness of the member 22., The resiliency of the member22 causes it to tend to rise from the plane of the member I3 and engage and pierce the material from which the record is made. If desired, the tag. or slip I3 may have locking members 20 provided on opposite sides thereof so that when the members are sprung backwardly in the manner shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8 and in full lines-in Fig. 2, the members 20 will engage the under surface of the top part!) and the upper surfaceof the lowerdisc II. If desired, co-operating locking members 23 and 24 may beimbedded in the discs 9 and -I I- respectively as clearly shown. in Fig. 3

so that if the tag or slip I3 is attempted to be withdrawn the upper and lower members 22 of the upper and lower locking members 20 will engage the members 23 and 24 and be locked in position. However, should extreme force be applied to the member I3 in the attempt to withdraw it from its reinserted position, the members 22 will dig into the under surface of the top disc 3 and pierce the window I6, and thereby show that the device I3 has been tampered with or replaced.

The purpose of the tag or slip I3 is to provide the author or recorder or the record with some means of identification to indicate that the record is of his own work or to identify the particular record with respect to some particular happening or event. The record is adapted to be made of some very thin material and of the kind which can stand a certain amount of abuse to withstand handling and mailing. The recorder may be a distance from his home or his oilice and would desire to send a message to his home or his oflice but would want to be sure that the particular record which was sent to his home or his ofiice was the particular record of which he was the author or recorder. Therefore, in order to determine this fact, he may Withdraw the tag I3, sign the tag I3, and then reinsert it in position in the record so that it could not be removed. The signature would be plainly visible through the window I6, and inasmuch as the tag or slip 13 could not be withdrawn without tearing or otherwise mutilating the record or a part thereof, helwould know that the particular record which he sent was the same record which was received. The record, therefore, would be the genuine work of the sender and the tag or slip I3 would be tantamount to his own signature or handwriting on a letter which he himself had Written. .The tab I! at the end of the tag or slip I3 would carry a, numeral or some indicia to correspond with the tag or slip I3. Moreover the sender of the record could place a date or number on the tab to indicate the particular record or serial numbers on the tab and the tag could correspond to definitely designate or indicate the relationship between the tag and its cooperating tab.

In Fig. 4 the tag or slip I3 is shown partly withdrawn out of its slot after it was reinserted whereby a member 22 has pierced through the window I6. Continued movement to the right of the member I3 would cause further damage or mutilation to the window I6. Therefore, it would be ascertained readily that an attempt was made to remove the member I3 or that the original member I3 was replaced. I

The invention provides new andhovel means of relatively inexpensive and simple construction whereby indicating means are associated with the record to determine at all times the genuineness of the record and to indicate whether or not actual or attempted replacement of the original member I3 was made.

Changes may be made in the form, construetion, and arrangement of the parts without de-' parting from the spirit of the invention or sac rificing any of its advantages; and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the'following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as followsr; .1

1. A record comprising an uppersurface including a portion for the recordingandreproductionof sound, a lower substantially coextensive surface underlying said. upper surface, there between said surfaces and extending beneath the recording and reproducing portion of said upper surface, and a removable tag inserted in said recess. r I

2. A record comprising an upper surface in.- cluding a portion for the recording-and reproduction of sound, a lower substantially coextensive surface underlying said upper surface,-there being a recess provided in the body of the record between said surfaces and extending beneath the recording and reproducing portion of said upper surface, a removable tag inserted in said recess, and locking means adapted to prevent removal of said tag. i

3. A record comprising a body having an upper surface including a portion for the recordingand reproduction of sound, said body having an opening therein providing a pocket extending beneath the recording and reproducing portion of said upper surface, a. reinsertable :member mounted in the pocket opening, and a shiftable locking means for said reinsertable-member, being so constructed and arranged that in one shifted position it will permit a withdrawal of said reinsertable member and in another shifted position it will dig into a part of the. record upon an attempted withdrawal of said reinsertable member. i g: 1

4. A record comprising a body having an upper surface including a portion for the recording and reproduction of sound and a lower-substantially, coextensive surface, there being a recessed-pocket provided in said body between saidiupper and lower surfaces, said pocket extending inwardly from the peripheral edge of the record and underlying at least a portion of the recording and reproducing portion of said upper/surface, a member arranged in said pocket recess, and a shiftable locking means for said member, being so constructed and arranged that in one shifted position it will permit a withdrawal of said member and in another shifted position it will permit the reinsertion of said member into said pocket but will prevent a subsequent withdrawal of said member.

5. A record comprising a body having an upper surface including a portion for the recording and reproduction of sound and a lower substantially coextensive surface, said body being provided with a slotted recess providing a relatively thin wide pocket formed in the body and extending beneath the recording and reproducing portion of the upper surface, a removable member insertable in said recess and locking means adapted to prevent the withdrawal of said member from said recess.

6. A record comprising a body having an upper surface including a portion for the recording and reproduction of sound and a lower substantially coextensive surface, said body being provided with a slotted recess providing a relatively thin wide pocket formed in the body and extending beneath the recording and reproducing portion of the upper surface, a removable member insertable in said recess, and locking means co-operating with the member and record and adapted to prevent the withdrawal of said member.

'7. A record comprising a body having an upper surface including a portion for the recording and reproduction of sound and a lower substantially coextensive surface, said body being provided with a slotted recess providing a relatively thin wide pocket formed in the body and extending beneath the recording and reproducing portion of the upper surface, a member insertable in said recess, and co-operating shiftable locking means on the member and record, said locking means when shifted to a predetermined-position, being arranged to permit withdrawal of'saidmember.

8. A record comprising a body having an upper surface including a portion for the recording and reproduction of sound and a lower substantially coextensive surface, said body being-provided with a slotted recess providing .a relatively thin wide pocket formed in the body'and extending beneath the recording and reproducing portion of the upper surface, a member insertable-insaid recess, and a reversible locking means on the member, said locking means when reversed being adapted topermit insertion of the member in the recess but to prevnt withdrawal thereon."

-9. A record having an upper surface adapted tobe operated upon to provide sound recording grooves, a member adapted tobe disassociated from said record, slotted means on said record for receiving said member, and means adapted to prevent withdrawal of said member from said slotted 'means'when again associated with the record. v

10. A record for recording and reproducing sound having a withdrawable member associated therewith, slotted'means' on said record for receiving said member, said member adapted to containindicia, said slotted-means providing for reasso'ciating said member with'the recordyand locking means adapted to prevent-'withdrawal-of the member from the record when-reinsertedin said slotted means. vi? 1 11. A laminated record for recording and reproducing sound having substantially"coextensive upper, intermediate, and lower portions, said upper portion including a surface for the record'- ing and reproduction-of sound, saidintermediate portion having aslot provided therein-to receive a withdrawable member, said: slot extending beneath' said recording and reproducing surface and being provided with a lateral opening for insertion and withdrawal of said member, said lower portion having a window in alinement with at least a part of said slot.

12. A laminated record for recording and reproducing sound having substantially coextensive upper, intermediate, and lower portions, said upper portion including a surface for the recording and reproduction of sound, said intermediate portion having a slot provided therein to receive a withdrawable member, said slot extending beneath said recording and reproducing surface and being provided with a lateral opening for insertion and withdrawal of said member, said lower portion having a window in alinement with at least a part of said slot, and locking means being so constructed and arranged that it may permit withdrawal of the member from the slot.

13. A laminated record for recording and reproducing sound having substantially coextensive upper, intermediate, and lower portions, said upper portion including a surface for the recording and reproduction of sound, said intermediate portion having a slot provided therein to receive a withdrawable member, said slot extending beneath said recording and reproducing surface and being provided with a lateral opening for insertion and withdrawal of said member, said lower portion having a window in alinement with at least a part of said member, and reversible locking means arranged to permit withdrawal of the member from the slot, said locking means when reversed being adapted to permit easy in'- vent the member from being again withdrawn.

14. A laminated record for recording and reproducing sound having substantially coextensive upper, intermediate, and lowerportions, one of said portions i'havinguavrecording and reproducing surface, saidintermediate portion having a slot provided therein to receive a withdrawable member, said slot extending beneath said recording and reproducing surface and being pro-- vided with. a lateralvopening for insertion and withdrawal of said member, said lower portion having awindow in aiinement with at least a part of said member, reversible locking means normally arranged to permit withdrawal of the member from theslot, but in its reversed posi- -tionv. being iadaptedqto permit easy insertion of the memberin the opening but to prevent the membernfrommeing again withdrawn, and a second locking means adapted to co-operate with :one ofsaid portions and said lockingmeans on the member. a v 1 V a 15. A sound record, comprising abody member having a recording surface portion on an outer face thereof, said body member having a pocket recessed within the body member between said outer recording surfaceportion. andran opposite face and havingian opening vthrough an edged the body member; and means within said pocket for receiving a signature ,or other indicia within the body of the record, said record being constructed and arranged sothat the signature or other indicia may be seen through a part of a said face. v v r V a v16. Asound' record comprising a body member havi g. a recording surface portion ,on an outer face thereof, said body member having a pocket recessed within the body member between said outer recording surface portion and an opposite face and ,havinganopeningvthrough an edge of the body member,- and means within. said 22,468 sertion of the member in the openingbut to prepocket for receiving a signature or other indicia within the body of the record, at least one of said faces having at least a part thereof transparent to permit the signature or other indicia to, be viewable therethrough.

17. A sound record comprising a body member having a recording surface portion on an outer facev thereof, said body member being provided with a recessed pocket positioned within the body member between said outer recording surface portion and any opposite face and having an opening through the edge of the body member in communication with the pocket, one of said faces having a transparent portion, and means adapted to be inserted in said pocket within the body of the record, said means being adapted to receive a, signature or other indicia and viewable through said transparent portion. y

18. A sound record comprising a plurality of laminations sealed together to provide a unitary record body, saidbody having a recordingsurface portion on an outer facevthereof, said body having. a recessed pocket provided within an inner lamination of said record body between said outerrecording surface portion and an. opposite face and having an opening through the edge of the body, one of said faces having a transparent :portio and means within said pocket for receiving a signature or other indicia within the body of said record, said indicia being viewable through the transparent portion of said record.

19. A sound record comprising a body member having opposed faces, at least one of said faces being a recording surface, and an indicia member arranged between the opposed faces, one of the opposed faces having a clear portion overlying the indicia member, said indicia member being adapted to present. an indicia viewable through the said clear portion.

' RICHARD W. SEARS, II. 

